The diet industry is one of the largest businesses in America.

In fact a 2018 survey found the US weight loss market is worth $66 billion. Yes you read that right BILLION!

With so many diets on the market it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.

Keto and Paleo are two of the most popular choices right now.

While they both can help you reach your goals, each one has its own unique set of characteristics.

In this article, we’ll take a look at each of the diets in detail and help you decide which one fits your life best.

What is Keto?

The Ketogenic diet has one solitary goal - to get the body to produce Ketones. While this sounds simple, there is a bit of science behind it.

Your body is naturally programmed to run off glucose as its main energy source. Ketosis helps the body switch to a different energy source - Ketones.

How is this done?

Decreasing your carbohydrate intake will allow the body to tap into stored body fat for its main source of energy. Eventually the body will become depleted of glucose stores and begin burning fat.

Why Eat Keto?

Many people are aware of the weight loss benefits of Keto and rightly so. By eliminating carbs from your diet the body will rely on fat as its main fuel source.

BUT there’s many other potential benefits of a Keto diet such as:

Helping individuals with type 2 diabetes by effectively lowering blood glucose
Helping control epilepsy for nearly a century
Many anecdotal cases have also noted enhanced mental clarity

The Keto diet is revolves around creating metabolic adaptations within your body. Think of it as a science-based approach.

What is Paleo?

The Paleo diet is a meal plan based on food choices that were consumed by humans in the Paleolithic era.

Foods such as meats, fish, vegetables, nuts, and fruits were the only sources of nourishment available at this time. Processed foods are completely eliminated from the diet as well as foods produced by modern agricultural methods such as - dairy, legumes, and grains.

Simply whole, healthy, nutritious food choices.

Why Eat Paleo?

Paleo involves eating like our caveman ancestors. Proponents of the Paleo diet believe an emphasis on whole food consumption may help prevent the incidence of certain health problems and lower the risk of chronic disease.

In recent years people have become concerned with the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and mass food production. Others may be concerned about pesticides and other chemicals used.

Paleo is based on a holistic ideology as opposed to a macronutrient focused approach. Think of it as more of a philosophy rather than science.

How are Keto and Paleo Similar?

Keto and paleo diets use different principles but share common goals. There are several key similarities between the two including:

No processed foods: Keto and paleo both discourage processed sugar but for different reasons. The Keto diet eliminates processed foods as they are high in carbohydrates and will prevent Ketosis from happening. Paleo does not believe in processed foods as they did not exist during the Paleolithic era.
Both encourage healthy fats: The Keto diet is based around consuming healthy fats. The Paleo diet believes in healthy fat as it was available during Paleolithic times.
Both may help with weight loss: Successful weight loss diets are all based around adherence. Choosing a healthy diet you can stick to long term can help with weight loss - both Keto and paleo can help you achieve these goals.

How are Keto and Paleo Different?

Many of the food choices between Keto and paleo will be similar, but there are ways of differentiating the two. Here’s a breakdown of the Keto vs Paleo differences:

Differing beliefs: the Keto diet uses a science based approach that makes your body metabolically adapt to a different energy source. Consuming a high-fat, low-carb diet will cause adaptations within your body. The Paleo diet on the other hand is a philosophical approach involved around whole healthy food choices.
Carbohydrate consumption: perhaps the most telling difference between the two diets is their views on carbohydrate consumption. The Keto diet involves eating minimal carbs (mostly from green veggies) while the Paleo diet allows carbohydrates from natural food sources such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes. Paleo also allows sugar from natural sources such as honey and maple syrup while these aren’t allowable on Keto.
Dairy intake: Paleo does not allow dairy as people didn’t commonly eat it during Paleolithic times. Keto on the other hand does allow for certain dairy choices such as most cheeses, grass fed butter, yogurt, and heavy whipping cream.

Although there are several overlapping characteristics between Keto and Paleo, both have their own intricacies. Understanding both types of diets is key to deciding on which one to follow.

Which Diet Should You Choose?

A diet plan should never be viewed as a temporary solution, but rather a sustainable lifestyle philosophy. Both Keto and Paleo are healthy lifestyle choices, it's just a matter of which one suits your life best.

If you can’t live without carbs you might want to stick to Paleo. If you can’t live without dairy, consider trying Keto meals. Different people can benefit from both types of diets, you just have to decide which one will help you reach your individual goals.

Base your dietary decisions on your individual needs.

Preparing Keto or Paleo meals by yourself can be a challenge. Let us make your life easier by trying out our Keto delivery service in Irvine or our Paleo meal delivery service!

Head over to our meal delivery store now and order your custom Keto meal plan, or try one of our Paleo meal plan subscriptions!

Whether you live in Los Angeles or Orange County, we’ve got your meal prep covered. And, we also deliver meal prep to San Diego too (however, make sure to contact us first before you place your meal order).

If you have any questions about our service, then feel free to reach out and let us help you reach your weight loss goals.

- R

P.S. - I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Keto and Paleo diets!

Keto vs. Paleo: How to Choose the Right Diet for You